Τhe  "Financial Instruments 2014-2020 under European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF)" Conference took place on the 20^th and 21^th of January 2015 in Brussels  The 2-days conference, which brought together representatives of the EU, public sector professionals and business representatives, how financial instruments can help in their efforts to deliver ESIF 2014-2020 objectives was fully presented.

The economic recovery which started in the EU in the spring of 2013 remains subdued and recent GDP forecasts for the EU have been revised down. However, despite the weak macroeconomic background, employment has shown a small but consistent growth in the EU since mid-2013, in the large majority of EU Member States, and across the large majority of sectors.

KEPA launches call for tenders for the selection of a contractor for the "Preparation and pilot operation of the Business Development Services Centers" , in the framework of the project “INVEST IN PEOPLE OF THE CROSS-BORDER AREA” with the acronym “MICROSTARS”, funded by "Greece – The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia IPA Cross-Border Programme 2007-2013". Deadline for tenders: 13/01/2015, 14:00:00 (local time).

On 10/12/2014, KEPA organized a rountable in its facilities in Brussels, aiming to take into consideration ERRIN member's opinions, in order to provide better support to policy makers to integrate design for innovation in their Regions.

KEPA's executives participated in EMN Exchange Visit on European Code of Good Conduct for Microcredit Provision and EaSI funding, in 01/12/2014 . This year’s EMN Exchange Visit was organized around two main chapters and took place at two different locations in Brussels. The morning session was co-organized by the European Commission and the European Investment Bank. EMN organized transportation to bring registered participants to the field visit to the headquarters of microStart (Belgian MFI) for the afternoon session. 

Under the third call for proposals of the “Greece - The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia IPA Cross-Border Programme 2007-2013”, co-financed under the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA), the Business and Cultural Development Centre (KEPA) along with the Microcredit Foundation Horizonti were approved for the implementation of the project "Investing in human resources in the cross - Invest in people of the cross-border area” with the acronym "MicroStars". The total project budget amounts to €375.116,00. The contract was signed on 30/10/2014 and the total project duration is 15 months.

On 19/11/2014, KEPA coorganized with the Managing Authority of the Operational Programme "Competitiveness & Entrepreneurship" a workshop on "Design for Public Sector" for executives of the following Greek Ministries: Ministry of Development and Competitiveness, Ministry of Employment, Social Security and Welfare, Ministry of Environment, Energy & Climate Change; on Managing Authority's headquarters. The workshop was organized in the context of the SEE Platform project, in which KEPA is partner.

In 18/11/2014, the President of KEPA, KEPA-ANEM and EFEPAE, Mr. Thomas-Fokion Algianakoglou had a meeting with the Mayor of Thessaloniki, Mr. John Boutaris, in a very friendly atmosphere.  Mr.  Algianakoglou informed the Mayor of Thessaloniki for the work that had been done by KEPA, KEPA-ANEM and EFEPAE during the NSRF 2007-2013 and the planning of their operations for the new programming period 2014-2020. Also, the Mayor was informed on KEPA's activities through its' European Projects Department and its Brussels office.

Mr. Kaboukos Dimitris, KEPA's European Projects Department executive, represented KEPA in the context of "EUROMED Invest Academy: New Innovation Networks and role of BSOs", which took place in 13/11/2014, Thessaloniki. In his presentation entitled "Fundraising for new entrepreneurs:engineering the financial mechanism to finance new networks: “The past, the current and the future” ", Mr. Kaboukos referred to KEPA's management experience NSRF programmes, with special reference to the "New Innovation Entrepreneurship" programme, while also he presented KEPA's future plans on supporting SMEs in Greece and especially those in Central Macedonia.

The “Innovating the Public Sector: from ideas to Impact” Conference took place on the 12^th and 13^th of November 2014 in Paris at the headquarters of OECD.  The 2-days conference brought together public sector practitioners, researchers, civil society and businesses to discuss how innovation can help solve today's complex challenges faced by the public sector. The conference included several workshops and  innovation talks and it was organized in partnership with Futurs Publics, Nesta, MIndLab and OECD.